Method for mounting plate shaped building sections



Feb. 11, 1969 F. ASPAAS 3,426,493

METHOD FOR MOUNTING PLATE SHAPED BUILDING SECTIONS Filed NOV. 9, 1965 Sheet of 4 FIG. 2

INVENTOR FINN ASPAAS ATTORNEY}:

Feb 11, 1969 F. ASPAAS 3,426,493

METHOD FOR MOUNTING PLATE SHAPED BUILDING SECTIONS ,IIIIIII 4 A M 1N VENTOR FINN ASPAAS ATTORNEY5.

9 F. ASPAAS METHOD FOR MOUNTING PLATE SHAPED BUILDING SECTIONS Filed Nov. 9, 1965 Sheet :3 of 4 42 INVENTOR 41 2 FINN ASPAAS K/ ATTORNEYS,

Feb. 11, 1969 F. ASPAAS METHOD FOR MOUNTING PLATE SHAPED BUILDING SECTIONS Filed Nov. 9, 1965 FIG. IO

Sheet 4 of 4 FINN ASPAAS ATTORNEYS INVENTOR I United States Patent 3,426,493 METHOD FOR MOUNTING PLATE SHAPED BUILDING SECTIONS Finn Aspaas, Tollbodgaten 19, Kristiansand, Norway Filed Nov. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 507,075 Claims priority, appliciiltion Nlorway, Nov. 11, 1964,

US. Cl. 52-403 Int. Cl. E041) 2/60, 1/66; E06b 1/38 In modern factory and ofiice buildings there is an ever increasing use of light-openings which extend horizontally in an unbroken line through the entire width of the building. Into this light-opening one may mount plate shaped building elements, such as window panes, with intermediate posts.

The mounting itself does not represent any difiiculty, apart from being time-consuming and, therefore, expensive. The posts are firstly arranged between the upper and lower sides of the openings, whereupon the plate shaped building elements, such as window sections, are arranged between the posts and connected with same. The greatest difiiculty arises when a window section has to be taken out either because the window concerned is broken or if a fixed window section is to be replaced by a window casing having a turning window frame.

The aim of the present invention is not only to avoid this difiiculty, but indeed to arrive at a speedy and inexpensive method of mounting such plate shaped building elements, especially window sections.

Thus, the invention concerns a method of installing plate shaped building elements, such as window sections which are arranged between posts having H-shaped section in the horizontal openings of the building. The invention consists in the combination of the following steps (1) the upper and lower parts of the buildings walls defining the horizontal through-going opening, and the upper and lower edges of the plate shaped elements, as well as the upper and lower ends of the posts are formed to engage in mutual mortice and tenon connections, of which mortices the upper are made with greater depth than the lower, (2) the plate shaped elements and the intermediate vertical posts are placed in postion by first guiding them slantwise so high up into the mortice-and-tenon connection with the upper edge of the horizontal opening that their lower edges and ends respectively may be brought into mortice-and-tenon engagement with the lower edge of the opening, and then dropped in place, (3) at least in one of the mortices defined by the legs of the H-shaped vertical posts there is arranged an elastic compressible element, (4) the plate shaped elements and the posts are finally brought in mutual mortice-and-tenon engagement by being moved horizontally in the plane of the plate shaped elements.

The upper and lower edges of the building elements as well as the upper and lower ends of the posts may form either mortices or tenons, and the vertical longitudinal edges of the posts may as well form either mortices or tenons with the vertical edges of the plate shaped elements correspondingly formed with tenons or mortices respectively. Consequently, the upper and lower edges of the window openings may be formed with mortices which engage the upper and lower edges of the plate shaped sections, or with tenons which are engaged by mortices forming parts of the upper and lower edges of the plate shaped building sections, such as window panes which may be single or double (insulating glasses). The elastically compressible elements may be elongated strips having the same length as the height of the plate shaped sections and made of elastomeric profiles or flexible tubes or some kind of plastic compounds, such as plastic foam or an elastomeric joint filler.

8 Claims As a result of the above mentioned elastorneric or yielding elements it is possible to remove immediately one of the plate shaped elements such as a window section should same be broken. Said section or the remaining parts of same may either be removed in pieces or as a whole part by moving it towards the elastomeric elements and then pulling it out by correspondingly moving it in its own plane, i.e. upwardly and then horizontally, normally to its plane.

By a further development of the method described above with a special view to replace or exchange window sections, this can be eifected by arranging the H-shaped sections of the posts so as to obtain the opposite mortices of different depths and inserting elastomeric elements in the deepest mortice in each of said two mortices said posts being positioned in such way that the compressible or elastomeric elements are arranged in the mortice which engages the nearest plate shaped section, and the posts being thereafter shifted against the action of the compressible elements so as to give an opening which is wide enough to put in a new plate shaped element, such as a window section.

In connection with buildings made with steel constructions with or without concrete outer walls or prefabricated elements and with insulating material arranged between said elements and the wall or the steel construction, it is known to define the horizontal openings by sheet elements defining the upper and lower parts of the opening, and to provide such sheet elements with flanges serving to hold facade sheeting elements. According to a further feature of the invention said sheet elements are formed in one piece with the above mentioned mortices.

The invention is to be described in detail with reference to the drawings in which FIG. 1 shows a vertical section of a window section in place between the upper and lower edges defining a horizontal window opening,

FIG. 2 shows a similar section with one of the intermediate posts visible,

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show horizontal sections of posts and adjacent window sections with different elements inserted in the bottoms of the vertical mortices of the posts,

FIG. 6 shows a variation according to which the edges of the window sections are formed with mortices and the post having crossor T-shaped section,

FIGS. 7 and 8 show vertical sections of a window element which may be used together with a post as shown in FIG. 6 and in which the window elements are formed with mortices and the window openings are defined by tenons,

FIG. 9 shows a section of a post with H-shaped section defining two mortices of different depth,

FIG. 10 shows diagrammatically how the post according to FIG. 9 may be used, and

FIG. 11 shows a vertical section of a horizontally extending window opening defined by armatures of sheet metal serving to hold facade elements and formed with mortices for windows sections and intermediate posts.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show vertical sections of a horizontal window opening which may extend in an unbroken line through the entire width of a building. Said opening is defined by the upper wall 6 and the lower wall 8, both of concrete. In said walls there are formed mortices 5 and 7 respectively, provided with linings 5' and 7 respectively. The upper mortice 5 is deeper than the lower mortice 7 so that a plate shaped building element 1, 2, 3, such as a Window pane (as shown), may be put in. In the embodiment shown said window consists of an insulating double glass pane having two glass sheets 1, circumjacent edging 2 and a distance element 3. Said plate shaped building element is installed by first being lifted up into the upper mortice and then lowered into the lower mortice 7, but prior thereto on the upper and lower edges of the plate shaped element 1, 2, 3 are arranged with longitudinal insulating elements in the form of tightening strips 4 and 4', of which at least the upper one is elastomaric or compressible and compliant so that it may be forced into the upper mortice 5. When the lower edge of the section is thereupon dropped or pushed down into the lower mortice 7, the upper tightening element 4 will follow downwards due to friction between said tightening element 4 and the lining 2 of the plate shaped element. The lateral lips of the tightening element will adhere to the underside of the upper Wall and form an efiicient tightening of the joints. After thus having put the plate shaped section in vertical position, same is pushed horizontally, to bring the corresponding edge into engagement with the adjacent mortice of the post 11, see FIG. 3 which is to be described below.

To facilitate said horizontal movement of the plate shaped element or window pane there is arranged a wooden list 9 in the bottom of the mortice 7 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 2 shows a window section in engagement with a post 11 which may be either mounted in the same manner as said element by first pushing its upper end into the mortice 5 and then dropping its lower end down into the mortice 7 to rest on the wooden list 9, or by first being positioned into the opening at a slant and afterwards pushed into engagement with the window section. According to FIG. 2 there is also arranged a drainage duct 10 in the Wall 8. The joints between the side walls of the mortices 5 and 7 and the posts 11 may be tightened in some way, such as with some sort of plastic compound serving as a joint filler (not shown).

Fig. 3 shows a horizontal section of the post 11 having H-shaped section to form two mortices which engage the side edges of two adjacent window sections 1, 2, 3 with intermediate tightening elements 12 which may be of the same material and substantially the same shape as the tightening elements 4 and 4' in FIG. 1. A wooden list 13 is placed in the bottom of each of the mortices of the post 11. One or both said lists may be replaced by elastomeric elements 14 as shown in FIG. 4 to allow for a movement of the window section concerned deeper into the mortice so that its other edge, not shown, may be moved out of its corresponding mortice and then lifted and removed from the opening defined by two adjacent posts 11 and the upper and lower edges of the wall portions 6 and 8 (FIGS. 1 and 2). This is done by first pushing the section into the mortice thereby compressing the elastomeric element 14, then lifting the section by pushing its upper edge into its upper mortice 5 so that the lower edge of the section is freed from the lower mortice 7 and the whole window then lifted out completely. If it is the question of a broken window, there is no difficulty whatsoever in getting hold of the glass pieces or the rest of the glass to make these movements. However, if the section in question is not broken, suction cups with handles should be used in known manner.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the end section of a window row abutting against a vertical wall portion to which is fastened a wooden ledge 15 forming the tenon for right mortice of the post. As in FIG. 4 there is inserted in the other mortice an elastomeric element 14 which is compressed when the window section is to be removed. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 the post consists of two outer parts 11' and an intermediate insulating part 11" which is cemented to the first mentioned parts and may be made from insulating material to eliminate loss of heat to the colder exterior part and break the so-called cold bridge.

FIG. 6 shows a variation according to which the window sections 20, 21, 22 are formed with mortices 23 in that the frame of the glass panes has a meander shape forming also the spacer element 22 simultaneously defining a mortice. The mortices of both elements cooperate with flanges 24 of the post 26 having in this case a T- or cross-section, the stem being numbered 25. The flanges 24 then form the necessary tenons of the connection with the plate shaped sections. The width of the stem 24 is given by the strength necessary in each special case.

The elastomeric element providing the tightening means between the post 26 and the window sections 20, 21, 22 is C-shaped and numbered 27. The flanges of said element is formed with a number of pin-shaped proturberances 27' which are introduced into correspondingly shaped apertures in the flanges 24 so as to keep the element 27 in place. The mutual displacement between window sections and post is made possible by the elastomeric element 27 being compressed or removed. The joints 30 between the element 27 and the window sections may be filled with a compound (not shown) which is easily removable when a displacement is to take place. The opening 29 at the opposite side of the element 27 may also be filled with an easily removable compound or joint filler (not shown). The mortice 7 itself in the concrete wall has to have such width as to give place for the stem 25 as well. When the elements are in their final position the opening may be filled with a wooden strip 28 or the like. In the embodiment shown the post is also provided with a small rib 26 which is opposite to the stern so that the post will have a cross section. Said rib 26 may be gripped when the post is to be displaced when necessary.

FIG. 7 shows how a window section 20, 21, 22 as shown in FIG. 6 is mounted in the window opening which is defined by the concrete walls 33, 34 provided with upper and lower T-shaped iron stems 31', 33' which point towards each other so as to be engaged by the mortices 23. The posts 25 (FIG. 6) are mounted correspondingly in that their upper and lower mortices or slots engage the stems 31' and 33' respectively, as does the window section 20, 21, 22 in FIGS. 7 and 8. In FIG. 8 the window panes are numbered 20, and the intermediate space defined by said panes as well as the circumjacent meander-shaped lining, is numbered 24.

FIG. 9 shows a post of H-shaped transverse section in which one pair 41 of the flanges are narrower than the pair of flanges 42 so as to define together with the stem 43 mortices of different depths, as shown. In the deepest of the mortices there are inserteda strip 44 which fills about half the depth of said mortice. The strip 44 may be replaced by an elastomeric element as described above The row of window sections in FIG. 10 has intermediate posts of the shape according to FIG. 9 and said posts are so oriented that two deep mortices and two shallow mortices respectively are placed towards each other in pairs and engage window section 45.

If one of the sections should have been damaged and has to be removed, it is taken out in pieces and the adjacent posts are removed and in case turned the other way whereupon an elastomaric compressible element 46 is inserted in each of the deep mortices instead of the wooden strips 44. Said two posts are then pushed apart against the action of the respective elements 46 to enable a new section 45 to be brought in position in the way described above, whereupon the posts are left free to be pushed against the section 45 by the action of the elastomeric elements.

A further development of the invention appears from FIG. 11 which shows a vertical section of a window opening. Said opening is defined by a lower wall 51 and an upper wall 55, in the edges of which are embedded iron channels, 52 and 56 respectively. T 0 said iron channels are fixed armatures 57 and of sheet material defining the light-opening and formed with flanges 58 and 61 respectively, fastening prefabricated facade elements 54. In the space 53 defined by said facade elements, the walls 51 and 55 respectively, as well as the armatures 57 and 60 respectively, there may be some kind of insulating material.

According to the invention said armatures 57 and 60 are formed with mortices pointing in mutual opposite directions and defined by flanges such as 59 and 62 formed by bending the sheet blanks three times, as appears from FIG. 11.

Into said mortices of which the upper is deeper than the lower, window sections are mounted as described above. Said window sections consist of two glass panes 63 and circumjacent framing 64 to form an insulating Window. A post 65 of H-shaped section is mounted in the same manner. In the lower mortice there is placed a ledge 9 of wood or other useful material.

I claim:

1. A multi-frame assembly for openings in buildings, said assembly comprising a plurality of post members and frame members alternately disposed in said openings in an abutting relationship, channels formed in the upper and lower edge portions of said openings, inserts formed on the upper and lower end portions of the frame members and the upper and lower portions of the posts, said inserts engaging in said channels so that said posts and frame members are slidable in said openings, said post members having H-shaped transverse sections forming vertical channels of differing depths for engagement by corresponding frame members, and an elastomeric compressible element disposed in the deepest of said vertical channels of each of said post members so that exchange of a frame member may be made by mutual displacement between a post member and a frame member against the section of the compressible element, in order to obtain an adequate space for the new frame member to be inserted.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said elastomeric elements is a strip of porous material.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said elastomeric elements is a flexible tube.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the edge portions of the frame members and the upper and lower ends of the post members are formed with channels to engage correspondingly formed inserts formed on said surfaces of said building.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said channels are formed by profiled strips of sheet material.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said post members are formed with oppositely directed vertical inserts which open towards the respective frame units and are adapted to extend in corresponding channels formed in said frame units.

7. The assembly of claim 6, .further comprising an elastomeric element in the form of a strip of C-shaped transverse section disposed in the joint between two adjacent frame members and extending over 9. corresponding post member.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said strip has pinshaped protuberances which engage with corresponding slots formed in said vertical inserts.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,032,344 3/1936 Barrows 52401 2,085,281 6/1937 Wagoner 52--272 2,159,673 5/1939 Owen 52397 2,195,046 3/1940 Best 49498 3,212,179 10/1965 Koblensky 52-403 2,654,921 10/ 1953 Blanchard 49-498 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

1. A MULTI-FRAME ASSEMBLY FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, SAID ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A PLURALITY FOR POST MEMBERS AND FRAME MEMBERS ALTERNATELY DISPOSED IN SAID OPENINGS IN AN ABUTTING RELATIONSHIP, CHANNELS FORMED IN THE UPPER AND LOWER EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID OPENINGS, INSERTS FORMED ON THE UPPER AND LOWER END PORTIONS OF THE FRAME MEMBERS AND THE UPPER AND LOWER PORTIONS OF THE POSTS, AND INSERTS ENGAGING IN SAID CHANNELS SO THAT SAID POSTS AND FRAME MEMBERS ARE SLIDABLE IN SAID OPENINGS, SAID POST MEMBERS HAVING H-SHAPED TRANSVERSE SECTIONS FORMING VERTICL CHANNELS OF DIFFERING DEPTHS FOR ENGAGEMENT BY CORRESPONDING FRAME MEMBERS, AND AN ELASTOMERIC COMPRESSIBLE ELEMENT DISPOSED IN THE DEEPEST OF SAID VERTICAL CHANNELS OF EACH OF SAID POST MEMBERS OS THAT EXCHANGE 